Traci woke up the next day. She had no recollection of getting to Andy's house last night. She still couldn't believe Jerry was gone forever. She got out of the bed and saw Andy on the couch watching cartoons.
Cartoons, made her think of her son. Leo. It was supposed to be her night with him last night. Oh no.
"Andy where is Leo?"
"He is with your mom. I called her last night and told her what happened. She picked him up from Dex's." Said Andy. She also moved over, so Traci could sit down. "How are you feeling?"
"I am still in shock, saddened. I feel like a part of my own heart died with him." Traci tried to hold back the tears. She just breathed in and out. She thought of Leo. Her most amazing son.
After several minutes of breathing and trying not to cry Traci said, "I need to see Leo."
So with that she showered at Andy's and even borrowed some of her clothing (could be Gail's too, She wasn't sure). She then declined the offer of having Andy walk with her to her mom's house. She needed the space to breathe and just be alone.
She also needed to figure out what to tell Leo. He may have a cop (detective in training) as a mom. But he still didn't understand death.
Traci didn't even walk up more then two stairs before her son Leo opened up the door. He ran down and gave his mom a big hug. He then took her hand, to show her what he made. In the living room, there were all kinds of pictures. Crayons, were everywhere on the floor.
Before Traci could even ask, Leo just said, "Grandma said you were sad, and if I made you lots of pictures, you wouldn't be sad anymore."
All she could do smile, and give her little man, another hug. Leo showed her pictures of animals, them, him and his daddy, him and his grandma and space. When the were both done looking at the pictures, they both got ready to go to a local restaurant for some brunch.
Traci was being strong for her son. She was going to tell him what happened, when they were done eating. They laughed and played with there food.
Then when Traci ordered the dessert's she said, "Mommy needs to tell you something. Something about Jerry, sweetie."
"Is he coming to join us for dessert?" He was so innocent, which made this so much harder.
"No , he won't be joining us. You know what heaven is right?
"Yeah, it's where all the pretty angels play, all the way up in the sky!"
"Well Leo, Jerry is now playing with those pretty angels in the sky."
"Why he is he up there mommy?"
"He was needed up there sweetie, the angels needed a new playmate. And we won't see him again until we are needed as playmates too."
"Well I hope he doesn't play go fish up there." Leo laughed. (when Jerry played go fish with Leo, he always let Leo win). Traci just laughed with him, while the enjoyed there dessert ice cream.